Rock On! with Danny Coleman's music picks

Welcome to my musical world! This is one man’s attempt to alert you to the best in area entertainment!

I’d like to begin this week with a bit of reflection. Our music community recently suffered a loss with the death of “The Separations” member Nelson “Buddy” Macrie.

“The Separations” made music together for more than 40 years and up until he took ill several months ago, Buddy still rehearsed either alone or with the group every Friday evening.

A war veteran and a member of the U.S. Army Band, I’m told that Buddy shared the stage as a backing musician for comedian Bob Hope as well as performances with guitarist Chuck Berry.

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Unknowingly, Buddy and “The Separations” gave this contributor his start in playing the local bar scene. When I was an 18-year-old kid, my band was trying to get a foot in the door at The Manor Hotel on Whitehead Road. The owner said that he was “booked solid this month with The Separations” but that he’d call us if there was an unforeseen cancellation.

Two days later he called us because a member of “The Separations” had taken ill; we filled in and never looked back.

We would split our time at the Manor Hotel with bands like “The Separations” and that’s where I cut my teeth in our local bar scene. Buddy told me himself that he was an avid reader of this column, something that I greatly appreciate.

I wish to express my condolences to his family, his band mates and anyone else that his life and subsequent passing has touched. Buddy, you will surely be missed; Rock On.

On a different note, not only was I lucky enough to interview Heart’s Nancy Wilson last week; I was also lucky enough to score a pair of tickets to their show in Atlantic City over this previous weekend.

Once the lights went down, the revamped line up took the stage to Led Zeppelin’s “In The Light.” A brief silence was broken by the power chords of show opener “BeBe Le Strange” and the band was off and running. Over the next hour and a half the Wilson sisters would take the capacity crowd on a nostalgic trip, featuring music from every decade of the band’s existence.

Touring in support of their new CD “Fanatic,” it was refreshing to hear only a select few tunes from the current disc. I say refreshing because the band chose to hand pick several of the more prominent tunes from the disc that seemed to strike a personal chord. Performing the title track along with “59 Crunch” and “Dear Old America” the latter dedicated to the Wilson’s father, they gave us just enough to whet our appetite for the new disc while making the rest of the evening a “greatest hits” performance.

In my humble opinion, I dislike when a band tours to support their new product, yet refuses to play any of their older material. This was definitely not the case on this night. Their fifteen song set included tunes such as “Heartless,” “Love Alive,” “Even It Up,” “What About Love” and amazing versions of old favorites “Silver Wheels” into “Crazy On You,” which slammed like a runaway train right into “Baracuda;” which featured some wicked guitar lick trade-offs between Nancy and guitarist Craig Bartock.

Throw in revamped versions of “Dreamboat Annie” and a unique keyboard laden “Dog & Butterfly,” along with an acoustic version of “Alone” and you had the recipe for a great mix of rock ‘n’ roll from this top-notch band.

Even though Ann Wilson seems to be a bit more reserved than in years passed, her voice was anything but. In my earlier interview with sister Nancy, she lamented how incredible her older sibling was sounding; she wasn’t exaggerating even a little bit. Ann blew the crowd away with every high and low note that she hit without faltering once.

Nancy was still very active in her stage presence, utilizing her patented leg kick and hopping around on her toes, she wowed the crowd with her fret board wizardry as well as a great version of the band’s number one hit “These Dreams” which feature her vocal talents.

The rest of the band was tight and right on time all evening. Playing dynamically and a true driving force, this supporting cast was an outstanding compliment to these great ladies of rock.

An encore of “Magic Man” had the house rockin’ and once again showcased Ann’s powerful vocal ability. The band ended the night the way it started with a Led Zeppelin tune; a second encore of “Black Dog” had the crowd yet again singing along and dancing in the aisles.

This was the first time that I’ve seen Heart in more than ten years and they sound just as fresh now as they did then. Unfortunately by the time this is published, the east coast leg of the tour will have been completed. Perhaps we’ll get lucky and they’ll be back later this year? This is one man who hopes so.

This week in our area: Joe Chianese of area band Radio Fiction has informed me that there is a benefit show at which the band will be performing on Saturday Feb. 2 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Cool Cricket in Fieldsboro. “Friends Making A Difference For Colin” are hosting a fundraising “Beef And Beer Benefit” to help offeset the cost of a bone marrow transplant for young 5 year old Colin who is suffering from AML Lukemia. There will be a Chinese Auction and entertainment provided by Radio fiction. Tickets are $30 at the door. This hits home for Joe especially, as Colin is his great nephew. Please consider getting out and supporting this effort.

Recently a new venue has opened up on Route 33 in Hamilton called Blend. This bar/bistro features live entertainment throughout the week as well as DJ entertainment and live music on weekends. Thursday evening, the very talented Meg Hanson will be performing there beginning at 6:30 p.m. Blend is located next to Brothers Pizza, offers a nice atmosphere and is now another place where musicians can perform. Please be sure to check out Meg and Blend soon.

Once again on Saturday, great Jersey shore area band Slim Chance & The Gamblers will be making a rare area appearance when they hit the stage at The Record Collector in Bordentown. These guys have burst onto the music scene and have taken the northern Jersey shore communities by storm. Their recent CD release was so well attended that approx. 200 people were turned away at the door. These guys bring rockin’ blues and straight forward rock ‘n’ roll to the table and they do them exceptionally well. Tickets are $12 in advance and well worth the price of admission.

Also on Saturday, the Trentones are at The Sticky Wicket, Mike Matisa/Karly Coleman/Joe Hoyer are at Palermo’s and for an early show; The Gyrl Band feat. Kim Yarson, Sandy Zio and Lisa Bouchelle are at Halo Pub on Nottingham Way in Hamilton.

You can’t miss with any of these shows this weekend. So please continue to support live and original music and until next week...ROCK ON!